FB: New England Small College Athletic Conference

[gridiron]

Been a fun season for sure.  As a newie, I appreciate all the passion and insight from the posters.  Echo congrats to those teams that made big strides this year and concur look for similar advances next season from those teams with new coaches and young rosters.

As for the age old question of more football, personally, I'd be more interested in simply ensuring that every team plays every other NESCAC opponent each year (a ninth game).  Hard to fathom ANY logical rationale against doing so, save for some financial considerations.  We know the NESCAC likes to model itself after the Ivies who also shun playoff football.  Still, the Ivies manage to play TEN games without any apparent adverse effect upon the academic experience of their student athletes.

The experienced veterans on this board no doubt have bantied about this topic for quite some time.

[Jonny Utah]

Just had an odd thought.  I guess everyone has pretty much accepted the NESCAC's supposed reasoning for not wanting to play in the NCAA football tournament.  I'm wondering why they wouldn't have interest in making themselves eligible for an ECAC game.  It's confirmed to be only 1 game so it won't interfere for more than a week with too many future presidents' academic career.  It's likely one MAYBE 2 teams would make it, and it might break some ice with playing out of conference for once.  Wondering if it was ever discussed at all.

_{"An ECAC game or any other form of playoff contest, is utter hogwash and should never be a forethought in the minds of NESCAC althletic directors"
James A. Garfield, Williams College '1856}

[pg04]

Just had an odd thought.  I guess everyone has pretty much accepted the NESCAC's supposed reasoning for not wanting to play in the NCAA football tournament.  I'm wondering why they wouldn't have interest in making themselves eligible for an ECAC game.  It's confirmed to be only 1 game so it won't interfere for more than a week with too many future presidents' academic career.  It's likely one MAYBE 2 teams would make it, and it might break some ice with playing out of conference for once.  Wondering if it was ever discussed at all.

No because they might then be forced into playing an icky school from some icky area with icky students.

[dlippiel]

Dlip thinks you guys are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy off base here...it's because ECAC rules prohibit tea and crumpets being served at halftime. It's not the NESCAC it's everyone else on earth that is the problem. Geez dlip thinks you guys would know this by now.

[lewdogg11]

Well, nonetheless, my question(for once) was actually serious.  An ECAC game might be an easy measure to see where the NESCAC lines up outside of the NESCAC and it would be a nice little reward for a team that is successful.  I'm sure there are some players out there that would love to showcase their talents one more week.  It's too bad it is frowned upon.

[dlippiel]

Well, nonetheless, my question(for once) was actually serious.  An ECAC game might be an easy measure to see where the NESCAC lines up outside of the NESCAC and it would be a nice little reward for a team that is successful.  I'm sure there are some players out there that would love to showcase their talents one more week.  It's too bad it is frowned upon.

Selfishly dlip would like to see it. It would be quite exciting to see some NESCAC teams battle other teams from the region. The ECAC games would only be 1 extra game per year for the NESCAC schools and serve as an annual "clash" between regular east region teams and NESCAC teams. Dlip bets it would be most exciting for the players themselves. Yet why is dlip wssting his time here...yawn...it'll never happen.

[Pat Coleman]

I don't think an ECAC game would be a good way for Amherst or Williams to end their season. I could see it for the NCAA playoffs, but for Amherst and Williams especially, an ECAC game would be a huge comedown from the rivalry game.

[maineman]

Great football season!  Talk to you folks over on the hockey and basketball boards

[BallHawk7]

Following Week 8 in the NESCAC, I have revised my All-NESCAC Predictions. They are pretty similar to the predictions that I made last week, with a few changes based on how week 8 played out, as well as the feedback the board provided.

Would love to hear the boards thoughts. IMO, this is more interesting than dreaming about a 9th game, which unfortunately will never happen......

First Team Offense         
QB   McCallum Foote   Middlebury      
RB   Ben Crick Trinity      
RB   Evan Bunker   Trinity      
OL   John Ceccio   Amherst      
OL   Jacob Sheffer   Wesleyan      
OL   Ryan Moores   Middlebury      
OL Ryan Weston      Bates
OL   Mike Valenti   Trinity      
WR   Darren Hartwell   Williams      
WR   Zach Driscoll   Middlebury      
WR   AJ Jones   Trinity      
TE   Billy Chapman   Middlebury   

I think the First Team O is pretty certain. The only debatable spot on the first team O is Ben Crick at RB. I believe that he did enough in that high powered Trinity Offense to warrant a first team nod, although the argument could certainly be made for James Stannel, Pat George, or Remi Ashkar on the 1st team as well. I don't think anyone would doubt Ladarius Drew's talent, but he has been hurt for too much of the year. He wasn't even the most impactful running back on his own team this year, and I think that Panthernation's first team nod for him is aggressive. Both him and Gibson have All-NESCAC talent, but I think the nod goes to seniors Pat George and Remi Ashkar, as well as Bunker, Crick, and Stannel over them this year. Their time will come though.

At Wideout, Hartwell and Driscoll are no-brainers and AJ Jones gets the first team nod despite only 13 catches. Averaging over 28 yards per catch, no one in the league had more explosive, impactful plays for his team than Jones.
      
First Team Defense            
DL   Zach Vinci   Wesleyan      
DL   Matt Gaither   Bates      
DL   Travis Dickensen   Amherst      
DL   Nathan Cyr    Trinity      
DL   Matt Sponheimer   Amherst      
LB   Chris Cameron   Williams      
LB   Griffin Cardew   Bowdoin      
LB   Stephen Goniprow   Trinity      
LB   Matt Pieterse   Amherst      
LB   Tim Patricia   Middlebury      
DB   Jake Bussani   Wesleyan      
DB   Rae Haynes   Trinity      
DB   Julian Brown Trinity      
DB   Kyle Starr   Bates      

I am less sure about my first team defense predictions. I think Cameron, Cardew, Patricia, Bussani, Haynes, and Starr are locks, but wouldn't be surprised to see some variation at some of the other positions.

Second Team Offense            
QB   Trevor Smith   Bates      
RB   Remi Ashkar    Middlebury      
RB   Pat George   Bates      
RB   James Stannel Hamilton      
OL   Pete Christiani   Williams      
OL   Andrew Weiss    Trinity      
OL   John Gilboy   Colby      
OL   Rob Wasielewski   Amherst      
OL   Tim O'Brien   Trinity      
WR   Andrew Gromballa Trinity      
WR   Jake O'Malley   Amherst      
WR   Joe Jensen   Hamilton      
TE   Kevin Hughes   Wesleyan      

It is too bad that the NESCAC awards All-League to only two QBs, because I think Trevor Smith and Ryan Burgess are both deserving at the QB position. I think the nod will go to Smith because he is the senior. The 2nd team RB slots will go to Ashkar, George, and Stannel, although a strong case can certainly be made for Gibson and Drew. In my opinion, it has been a down year at the wide reciever position, but seniors Gromballa and O'Malley will get the nod, along with Jensen from Hamilton, who has made some explosive plays this year. Hughes is a lock at TE.

   
Second Team Defense            
DL   Nik Powers   Wesleyan      
DL   James Howe   Williams         
DL   Ryan Veillette   Colby      
LB   Henry Nelson   Colby      
LB   Tommy Meade   Tufts      
LB   John Durkin  Bates      
LB   Gilbert Brown   Bates      
LB   Tom Symanski   Trinity      
DB   Jason Buco   Colby      
DB   Donnie Cimino   Wesleyan      
DB   Dan Kenerson   Middlebury      
DB   Nick Campbell   Trinity      
DB   Andrew Kukesh   Bates      

Powers, Nelson, Buco, Campbell and Kukesh are all locks in my eyes, but wouldn't be surprised to see some variation here as well.
      
Special Teams      
Kicker: Joe Mallock (Williams)      
Punter: Kyle Pulek (Trinity)      
Returner:  Darren Hartwell (Williams)   

Notable snubs:

LB MacDonald from Hamilton had a good year statistically, but the Hamilton defense was too bad to have any players from that side of the ball make the team.    

RBs Gibson and Drew from Wesleyan, who I discussed earlier.

QB Ryan Burgess, who I discussed earlier. One more year for him to make the team.

Bates offensive line. At least one member of the Bates O-line will surely make the team. Liam O'Neil and Mark Sylvester are very deserving, but I think the nod will go to the senior Weston.

OPOY- Foote and Bunker.
DPOY- Haynes
Coach of Year- Harriman
Rookie of the Year- Patricia (Jayme Spears from Amherst a close second).

[dlippiel]

I don't think an ECAC game would be a good way for Amherst or Williams to end their season. I could see it for the NCAA playoffs, but for Amherst and Williams especially, an ECAC game would be a huge comedown from the rivalry game.

Truth in that thought Pat not much probably would come close to the intensity of that rivalry, dlip just thinks the mentality for the NESCAC school would be an us vs.them because most likely, even if many wouldn't admit it, dlip thimks the D3 football world would be watching and seeing just how they measure up. Honestly aside from all the joking around, dlip thinks they would measure up just fine with mid level east region teams (especially those in the NEFC and ECFC). Dlip thinks your most likely right though.

[dlippiel]

Ballhawk7 +k for that breakdown. That was quite detailed!

[lewdogg11]

Ballhawk7 +k for that breakdown. That was quite detailed!

I believe every player in the league was listed there.

[magicman]

Ballhawk7 +k for that breakdown. That was quite detailed!

I believe every player in the league was listed there.

plus k

[Panthernation]

It's been a really fun season, thanks to everyone who read our posts. Here is a final post from the blog (http://blogs.middlebury.edu/panthernation/2012/11/13/settling-the-debate-determining-offensive-and-defensive-players-of-the-year-and-coach-of-the-year/):

There are three — and only three — possible candidates for Offensive Player of the Year in the NESCAC: Mac Foote, Zach Driscoll and Evan Bunker. Here are their respective 2012 season lines:

Mac Foote: 256-402 (64%, 32 completions/game, 1st in nation), NESCAC-record 2,897 yards (362/game, 3rd in nation), NESCAC-record 31 TD (3.9 TD/game, 2nd in nation), 8 INT
Zach Driscoll: NESCAC-record 83 receptions (10.4 receptions/game, 2nd in nation), 1,134 yards (141.75 yards/game, 2nd in nation), NESCAC-record 15 receiving TD (1.9 TD/game, 2nd in nation)
Evan Bunker: 207 rushes, 1275 yards (159 yards/game, 3rd in nation), 6.16 yards/carry (21st in nation), 11 catches, 97 yards, 11 TD (27th in nation)

While Bunker certainly has a strong case for the award, his season simply does not measure up to those of Driscoll and Foote. Bunker is an incredible
runner and in an ordinary year this would be his award, but what Driscoll and Foote accomplished this season cannot be ignored. Put simply, they both just finished the best single season in NESCAC history at their respective positions. Driscoll set the single season record for most receptions and touchdowns for a wide receiver and fell just four yards short of setting the receiving yards record. Mac set the single season record for passing yardage and obliterated the passing touchdown record, throwing 36% of the total touchdowns thrown in the conference this season.

Consider for a moment that Bunker averaged 159 yards per game on the ground — a very impressive, though not record-breaking number. Then consider that Driscoll nearly matched that through the air, nearly tripling the yards per game average of the next best non-Middlebury wide receiver. Bunker's numbers, though again impressive, are considerably more reasonable when juxtaposed to those of the next best runners in the conference all of whom averaged nearly two-thirds of Bunker's production. Driscoll also scored four more touchdowns than Bunker, despite less than half as many touches.

Some will argue that Bunker's numbers were depressed by backfield mate Ben Crick who stole carries from Bunker, making Bunker's season that much more impressive. There are two responses to this argument. First, if we acknowledge that Crick took carries away from Bunker, which he did (though Bunker still led the NESCAC in rushing attempts) then we must also acknowledge that Middlebury's numerous weapons on the outside, including Chapman, Rankowitz, Goodkind and Minno also took targets away from Driscoll — probably at a considerably greater "cost" to Driscoll's numbers than Crick's affect on Bunker. And second, while we're on the subject of Crick, doesn't it say something that, of the two runners, Crick was both more efficient and more explosive than Bunker? On 84 carries (hardly a small sample size), Crick averaged better yards per carry average and a considerably higher touchdown rate than Bunker. This isn't to say that Crick is the better of the two backs, but rather to point out that what Bunker accomplished was not so much more impressive than what other players on his team and in the conference accomplished. The same cannot be said about Driscoll or Foote, who statistically obliterated every other NESCAC player at their respective positions, this year or any year.

So, given that Driscoll and Foote both had seasons for the ages, which is more deserving? We would argue that their accomplishments cannot and should not be separated. Foote and Driscoll have had a special connection this season since the very first drop back (which happened to result in a Driscoll touchdown catch), one that has broken and set numerous program and conference records, and one that should result in the pair being named Co-Offensive Players of the Year. Furthermore, the fact that Driscoll and Foote played together should not weaken their case for Co-OPoY, but rather enhance it. This is not a case where the quarterback made the wide receiver or vice versa. Instead, the immense talent of each player allowed the other to play at a higher level than any other at their position. The 15 touchdowns that Foote threw to Driscoll this season were the product of precision route running and perfectly timed touch throws that could not have been, and were not, replicated by any other tandem in the league, including Driscoll's teammates.

Zach Driscoll and Mac Foote should be named co-Offensive-Players-of-the-Year in the NESCAC, and both should be strongly considered for First Team All-American honors, along with tight end Billy Chapman.

The final argument for Bunker — that he outperformed Foote and Driscoll in their one meeting — is also a weak one. While Bunker was phenomenal in that game and both Foote and Driscoll played well below their capabilities, Bunker should not get credit for "outperforming" Middlebury's stars. This is a nonsensical argument, similar to reasoning that the outcome of a pitching duel or the result of a game involving two great quarterbacks determines who the better player is. In reality, the Middlebury offense was dominated by the best defense in the NESCAC, and Bunker ran wild over a defense that regressed in the second half of the season, especially against the run. It does not make the case that Bunker was the superior offensive player.

Instead, it does, along with many other factors, make a great case for Trinity safety Rae Haynes as the Defensive Player of the Year. Haynes is as dominant of a player as there is in the conference and, we would argue, probably the best player at any position in the league. While his teammate Stephen Goniprow also has a strong case for DPoY and probably had a better statistical season than Haynes, stats account for a smaller piece of the puzzle on defense than they do on offense. Haynes made it virtually impossible to throw downfield against the Bantams, using both his imposing physicality and tremendous quickness to simultaneously intimidate receivers — often stopping their routes completing their routes — and dissuade quarterbacks from throwing the ball in his direction. Because measuring the effectiveness of a defensive player is understanding the importance of not just what did happen, but also what didn't happen, it is Haynes who deserves the award for Defensive Player of the Year.

While offensive "matchups" are a foolish way to determine the better of the two players in any substantial way, the same cannot be said about coaching results. The NESCAC Coach of the Year, therefore, is a straightforward decision — the award belongs to Trinity head coach Jeff Devanney. While Bates head coach Mark Harriman is also deserving of the award, both for his team's improvement as well as everything they accomplished this season in light of the terrible tragedy of Troy Pappas's death, what Devanney did this year, blowing out certain teams, including Middlebury, with greater preparation and a better game plan while consistently pulling the right strings late in games when the team needed a big play was amazing. The criteria for great coaches should be threefold: 1) Earn the respect of and have the ability to motivate your players (check) 2) Consistently outcoach your competition with better preparation and game planning (check) 3) In tight games always put your team in the best possible position to win (check). Having clearly demonstrated that he excels in each of these respective areas, Devanney should be the decision for CoY despite considerable improvement from Middlebury, Wesleyan and Bates.

[pg04]

I think some of these posts could be submitted as dissertations at some of the NESCAC schools